Save the Date

by R. J. Groves

  Breathlessly, Andie shimmied her underwear down her legs and opened up to him. He freed himself just in time for her to tug him closer, her legs wrapped around his waist. They moved together like there’d be no tomorrow, their bodies becoming slick with sweat, both panting, kissing each other anywhere their lips could touch. He felt her hands slide under his shirt to grip his back, her fingernails digging in as he brought her to her climax. Her back arched, and she let out a glorious moan that only pushed him closer. He pumped harder, faster, until he joined her in bliss.

  It hadn’t just been a fantasy.

  It was some of the best damn sex he’d had in his life, and by the way she clung to him, she felt it too.

  So why did he still feel the guilt weighing heavily in his stomach?

  ***

  It. Was. Incredible.

  She wasn’t sure if it was the thrill of being in a semi-public place, the danger of being found out, or if it was something else, but that sex was better than any she’d ever had before. Her thoughts drifted back to the first time she’d slept with Taylor, and she smiled. Well, almost better. In a way, it was bittersweet. As good as it was, it felt like there was more riding on it than simple lust.

  She watched her fingers working at the buttons of her blouse, imagining the closing of her shirt as the protection of her heart. She could already tell she felt more for Taylor than she should. Was the reason why their intimacy felt bittersweet because she knew he didn’t want to feel more for her? And because she clearly felt more for him than she should?

  The voice in her head taunted her again, telling her she’d crossed another line. Sex behind closed doors was one thing, but in an office? How loose could she be? She frowned, mentally telling the voice to mind its own damn business. She’d tried being chaste before. She’d tried believing in happily-ever-afters and dreams coming true. It didn’t work for her before, so why would it work for her now? Clearly, something needed to change. She was only human. She had needs. And if sleeping with Taylor Ballin filled those needs, why should she stop? It wasn’t like she was sleeping with heaps of people. Only one. Exclusively casual.

  She lowered her hands, tucking her blouse back into her skirt and smoothing out the subtle creases. She glanced up at the man in question, standing by his mirror, adjusting his tie with a deliberation and finesse that showed he’d been doing it for a long time.

  He was neatly presented, and she could see that he took care to make sure he always was. He was serious about his business. Joseph had frequently ensured his shirts were pressed, his suits spot free, his tie perfect. Well, Andie had always done that for him. But between him and Taylor, the two couldn’t compare. Taylor had a kind of reverence in the way he dressed himself. For Joseph, it had always been a necessity. For Taylor, it seemed it was all because he cared. It was a choice.

  She swallowed, taking a shaky breath. How wrong had she been when she first met Taylor? He was nothing like Joseph. Sure, their occupation might come under the same broad umbrella, but the man standing before her now was nothing like the man who made her question everything she’d ever believed in. This man gave her hope again.

  Except that she couldn’t let herself hope.

  Hope was what got her hurt in the first place. And she’d known from the start that this was a no-strings-attached kind of deal. She swallowed again, hard, her breathing shallow as the man glanced up at her. And smiled. A big toothy grin that made her heart melt. She was in way over her head. Who was she kidding? She wasn’t capable of sleeping with someone like … like that, and not feeling anything for the guy. Truth is, she’d been crushing on Taylor Ballin since he walked through the door of her workplace, all arrogant, and jerk-like and … and attractive, and sexy. Despite her efforts, she’d never been able to stop feeling anything for him. She’d only felt more.

  ‘Are you watching me?’ He closed the wardrobe door and walked towards her.

  She forced a smile, even though her mind was screaming at her. ‘You weren’t wearing a tie before,’ she stated, reaching out to adjust it slightly. After how much time he’d spent on it, she half expected him to get frustrated with her adjustment. Instead, he simply smiled. She felt the flutter in her stomach again and pressed her hands against his chest, satisfied the tie couldn’t get any better.

  ‘My day hadn’t started yet,’ he said, snaking a hand behind her back until she was pressed against him again. ‘Now, it has. And it was a good start, too.’ He pressed his lips lightly to hers in a sweet, tender kiss before releasing her. ‘How much do I owe you?’ he said, moving towards the couch that had his business jacket draped on it.

  She frowned. ‘You can’t be serious—’

  ‘For the suit, Andie. Believe me, I’ve given up on trying to give you money for anything else.’

  The suit. Right. Of course, for the suit. Once again, she squashed down the little voice that made her think he was offering to pay her for … for whatever that was. Sex. Fantasy. Incredible. Her shoulders dropped on a sigh.

  ‘Right, I’ve got the invoice here somewhere,’ she muttered, scanning her immediate surroundings quickly and grabbing her handbag. She dug around in it and pulled out the invoice, scanning it over. Her eyes rested on the account details. ‘Shoot,’ she muttered. ‘These are the old details. Jannette—my boss—changed them recently. Some falling out with someone at the bank, or something like that.’ To be specific, Jannette had dated someone who worked there and it had ended badly. Enough for her to want to change banks.

  She heard a chuckle from his direction as she dug around in her bag for the updated card that she carried around just in case and pulled it out. ‘Bear in mind that this is the only time that I will ever accept money from you.’

  ‘I’m sure it is,’ he teased, buttoning his jacket.

  She scanned across his desk. ‘These are the new details. I’ll attach it to the invoice so you don’t lose them.’ She walked behind his desk. ‘Do you have a stapler?’

  ‘In the desk,’ he said, sitting down to put his shoes on. ‘Top drawer.’

  Her hand was already on the drawer when he’d said it, so it only took a second to open it up.

  ‘No, stop!’ he yelled.

  He might have startled her, had she not already seen it. A familiar bright, manila folder with the crisp, printed name on the tag, the same handwriting that had been on the one she’d received.

  J Warren.

  Joseph Warren. Her ex.

  She felt the blood drain from her body, a throbbing in her head, that little voice saying I told you so. Her heart felt like it had stopped beating, and there was a ringing in her ears. She shook her head in disbelief, dropping the invoice to the desk and reaching for the folder. Surely, it couldn’t be Joseph, could it? There must be other J Warren’s out there. She flicked the folder open and saw the first page, his details listed clearly up the top. All breath left her, and her body ached with a feeling she couldn’t quite describe. Pain? Betrayal? Heartbreak? It felt like her insides were crying. Her legs were weak, but she refused to drop to the chair.

  Why would he look into Joseph?

  She tried to tell herself that it could be for business, but she couldn’t believe it, regardless of how hard she tried. It was possible that they were entering a business deal, considering she never knew exactly what Joseph’s work involved. Was he even a real businessman?

  But even if it was for business, why would Taylor be hiding it in the top drawer? He’d yelled at her to stop when she opened it. He was hiding it. He knew this man was Andie’s ex. It couldn’t possibly be business.

  The ringing in her ears started to subside, and she heard the hum of his voice, talking to her.

  ‘Andie.’

  Her name. His tone was laced with desperation, trying to get her attention. She felt his presence behind her before she felt his hand on her shoulder. It was chilling, made her hairs stand on end and sent a shiver down her spine. She shrugged off his hand like it had given her an electric shock and spun tow
ards him.

  A look flashed across his face. Hurt. But she didn’t care. Nothing that he could be feeling could compare to how she was feeling right now. She gripped the folder, holding it up between them. He didn’t look at it. The bastard already knew what he was in for.

  ‘Personal?’

  She wasn’t sure if she’d yelled or not, but it tasted bitter on her mouth. From the look on his face, it sounded it, too. And so it should. He’d wounded her. And she could barely stand to be in the same room as him, let alone have him standing so damn close.

  ‘Andie,’ he started.

  Hearing him say her name only made it worse. Bile rose to the back of her throat and tears threatened to spill. She shook her head, squeezing her eyes shut.

  How could he?

  ‘Let me explain.’

  She felt her body shaking, her eyes stinging, and rubbed a hand over her face. How could she let this happen? Betrayed, again. Did she just have incredibly terrible judgement? Bad taste in men? Did she not deserve someone good?

  And the sex. He’d just seduced her in his office with the folder sitting right there in the top drawer. She shuddered as a thought occurred to her. Would they have gone that far if the folder wasn’t there? They’d been talking about Phil and how she’d had Joseph investigated. Had he only been trying to distract her? No. He couldn’t be so heartless …

  Could he?

  ‘Oh, God,’ she muttered, her voice breaking. She willed her legs to stay strong.

  ‘Andie—’

  She cut him off—not for the first time—with a slap across his cheek. Her hand stung and the roughness of his stubble lingered on her palm. She’d been unable to control herself. And she might have thought that it would make her feel better, but it didn’t. She wasn’t sure anything could make her feel better. She felt herself shattering from the inside out, the little voice telling her she should never have trusted him. If only she’d listened …

  ‘I deserved that,’ he muttered, not even rubbing his cheek. She saw the colour flushing where she’d slapped him, and squashed down the sorry feeling for causing it.

  ‘You deserve a hell of a lot more.’ She shoved the folder against his chest and pushed past him, grabbing her bag as she headed towards the door. She had to get out of there. Had to be by herself. Had to go back home. Back to Joey, the only man she could rely on.

  ‘Andie, please, let me explain.’ She felt, rather than saw, him following after her. She squeezed back the tears and spun to face him again.

  ‘You investigated me. There’s nothing to explain.’

  He paused a few feet away from her. His mouth opened and closed a few times before anything came out. ‘I didn’t investigate you. I investigated him.’

  ‘Damn it, Taylor!’ she yelled, stomping her foot. ‘It’s the same damn thing. He has nothing to do with you. You looked into him because you couldn’t wait for me to tell you what happened. Because you have this pathetic need to control everything.’

  She watched his Adam’s apple bob up and down as he swallowed. He didn’t deny it. His lips were pressed tightly together, his eyes clouding over. She swiped at a stubborn tear.

  ‘Tell me I’m wrong,’ she pleaded, her voice shaking. ‘Tell me it’s purely a coincidence and he’s involved with your next business venture.’

  Still nothing. His chin lifted, his brow creased. He looked past her, his eyes well and truly clouded over. Did he even feel bad about it? Did he realise how much it hurt her? And he was worried she’d look into him. All this time … She swiped at her eyes again, her body betraying her as well, and fixed her bag on her shoulder.

  ‘Thought as much,’ she muttered, folding her arms over her chest. She stared down at her shoes, hoping she wasn’t shaking as much as she felt she was. ‘And I was beginning to think we might have something real.’

  She sniffed and brought her gaze back up towards him. He was looking at her, something flickering across his face that made her wonder if he’d thought the same. Well, it was too late now. Any chance they might have had was thrown out the window the second he hired Phil Clayton to look into her history.

  She would be strong. She had to be strong. It was her own fault she’d ended up hurt. She’d known from the start that feelings were never supposed to be involved. How could feelings be mutual with a cold-hearted bastard like the man standing before her?

  She lifted her chin, standing straight, determined to make it back home without breaking down. Taylor Ballin would not see her weak and vulnerable. He didn’t deserve to see that side of her.

  ‘Goodbye, Mr Ballin,’ she said crisply. She turned her back on him and walked to the door, hesitating briefly once her hand was on the door handle.

  ‘We don’t have to let this come between us.’

  God, did he have no clue? Did he really think she could just let this slide? She squeezed her eyes shut, gathering up as much courage as she could, and glanced over her shoulder. She could see him in her peripheral vision, though she refused to turn enough to look directly at him. She wasn’t sure she could hold herself together if she did.

  ‘I can’t be involved with someone I can’t trust,’ she said, feeling the chill settle in around them. ‘Who doesn’t trust me.’

  She didn’t wait for an answer before leaving, but she heard him swear and something smash. And when she looked up as the elevator doors closed in front of her, he was standing in his office door, watching her. His expression unreadable, dishevelled. She lifted her chin in defiance. She would not give him the satisfaction of seeing her truly cry over him.

  The tears started the second the elevator started moving.

  ***

  Tay swore as he slammed the door behind him and grabbed the bourbon and new glass from the bottom drawer of his desk. He eyed the broken lamp as he passed it and sunk into the armchair in the corner, pouring himself a drink. With the blinds still closed and the lamp broken, his office was dark. Good. It matched his mood.

  How had he fucked up so badly?

  And I was beginning to think we might have something real.

  It wasn’t just him. She’d felt it, too. And yet, he still managed to find a way to push her away. He downed his drink in one solid gulp and sloshed some more in his glass. This was why he’d built walls around his heart. This was why he’d played it safe for ten years. Not only to stay out of jail, but to stop himself from going in a downward spiral again. If he’d stayed in control …

  His hand clenched around his glass. He wondered how hard he would have to squeeze to shatter it with his bare hands. He’d been about to see when he heard the door open behind him.

  ‘Helen, I told you I didn’t want to be interrupted,’ he growled.

  ‘Oh, grow up, you bloody idiot.’ He squinted as the light flickered on and his eyes adjusted. He lifted the glass to his lips. ‘And you’d dare talk to Helen like that? How rude.’

  Libby snatched the glass from his hand before he could get another sip in and moved it and the bottle out of reach.

  ‘Didn’t know you were coming,’ he grumbled, sinking further into his chair.

  ‘Not to see you,’ she snapped, sitting on the edge of the coffee table in front of him. ‘You wouldn’t guess who I just happened to see running out of the building in tears.’

  Oh, he had a good idea. He clenched his fists, hating himself for hurting her. He’d tried to avoid it. Tried to prevent anyone from getting hurt. And the fool that he was had only thrown himself and Andie on the train track. And now Libby knew.

  ‘Andie,’ Libby said, clearly angry. She whacked his arm. ‘Blockhead! What did you do?’

  ‘Why assume it was me?’

  ‘Because you can’t recognise a good thing when it’s right in front of you. And with your stupid resolution or whatever, I know that you would have pushed her away like you do with everyone else.’ She whacked him again. ‘You stupid, stupid man.’

  ‘Do you kiss your fiancé with that mouth?’ he teased, blocking her blows. But he
knew she was right. He didn’t need someone pointing out his incompetence.

  ‘Shut. Up. Tay.’ She stopped hitting him and rubbed her forehead. ‘Why Andie, huh? She’s nothing like—’

  ‘Don’t say it,’ he growled.

  ‘—Trudy. There, I said it.’ He ground his teeth, and her eyes narrowed. ‘Trudy was a horrible, horrible person. A liar, a cheat, a con artist. Andie is not. Andie is a nice, genuine person and she likes you, Tay. And you like her, too.’ She waved a finger between them. ‘No, you love her and you’re too afraid to admit it, and you’re too much of an idiot to actually believe that maybe—just maybe—there might be someone out there for you.’

  His jaw clenched and his chest ached. Trust his little sister to hit the nail on the head. Was there someone out there for him? He’d never believed it. But that was before he’d met Andie. Before she’d given him a reason to think otherwise.

  ‘You’re right,’ he muttered, pinching the bridge of his nose, his eyes shut tight. ‘I’m an idiot.’

  ‘A bloody idiot,’ Libby corrected. ‘So, why are you in here sulking and not running after her?’

  He shook his head slowly, fighting a threatening tear. When was the last time he’d cried? He couldn’t recall. He didn’t like the feeling. ‘It’s not that simple, Lib. I don’t think I can fix this one.’

  She frowned. ‘You didn’t have her investigated, did you?’

  He shrugged. ‘Through association?’

  Libby whacked him again. ‘God, Tay, you’re such an idiot.’

  ‘We’ve established that,’ he muttered, rubbing his aching shoulder. Since when had his little sister become a hitter?

  ‘All right, we can still fix this.’ She adjusted her shirt. ‘Starting with you. No more drinking. No more breaking things. It takes you to a dark place. If you’re going to get her back, you need to get your shit together. Deal?’

  He shrugged, and when she moved to whack him again, he lifted a hand in surrender. ‘Okay, okay. Deal.’ He ran a hand over his chin as he processed his little sister’s words. ‘We?’